From The Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department - On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Knox County Deputies responded to a complaint of two small children outside in the neighborhood unattended on Caldwell Street in Corbin. When the deputies arrived they made contact with a two (2) year old male child, naked from the waist down, and a four (4) year old female child. The children lead the deputies to their residence where contact was made with the parents. The deputies also observed three

From The Bell County Ky Sheriff's Department - Jeff Howard - BCDC On Monday, May 18, 2026, A multi-agency arrest and search warrant was executed at Howard's Market and 57-year-old Jeff Howard's residence near Pathfork in reference to illegal logging and timber theft. During the search, Howard and the residents at the home were charged with 33 counts of animal cruelty. Jeff Howard was additionally charged with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, but under $1,000,000, afte

From the Bell County Sheriff's Department - Ova B Collett - Previous Arrest Early Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Bell County Deputies were attempting to serve Bell and Laurel County warrants on 39-year-old Ova Brandon Collett of Pineville at a residence on Highway 92. Collett fled the scene and was later identified as the driver that endangered Bell County highway department workers almost striking them while he sped away from deputies. While traveling at speeds over 100mph, Sgt.

From WRIL - The Big One - Monroe Patton Smith - CCJ As we previously reported in 2023, Claiborne County officers were dispatched to a Paul Smith Lane residence in New Tazewell in regard to a report of child sexual abuse. Deputy Cindy O'Mary spoke with the aunt of a 4-year-old female victim who stated she discovered multiple "exploitive" images of her niece on her phone which had been used on several occasions by 36-year-old Monroe Patton Smith of Tazewell. After consent to se

From WRIL The Big One - Brandon Hale - CCJ In March of 2025 we reported that then 29-year-old Brandon Michael Hale of Jacksboro was being investigated for sexual offenses. Claiborne County Detective Niki McGeorge along with Investigator Brianna Green from the Department of Children Services, became familiar with sexual abuse incidents involving Hale and a female juvenile. Through the investigation, victim’s statement, and home video footage, it was determined that in the earl

From WRIL The Big One - Clark Burnett - BCDC On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Post 10 Dispatch was contacted by Child Protective Services regarding a referral received from a mental health facility in Pineville, KY. The referral detailed allegations involving a juvenile victim. The investigation, led by KSP Trooper Abner, alleges that 56-year-old Clark Burnett of Pineville is responsible for sexual behavior involving a female victim since the age of 12. On Wednesday May 6, 2026

From The Barbourville PD/Mountain Advocate - Update from the Mountain Advocate: A second person has been arrested on charges related to this case. 22-year-old Rachel Baker of Bimble Ky., was arrested Monday, May 4, 2026, and charged with Possession of Matter Portraying Sexual Performance by a Minor under the age of 12 and Distribution of Matter Portraying the Sexual Performance by a Minor under the age of 12 following the arrest of Bradley Kyle Yeager on Sunday. ____________

From WRIL The Big One - Stephanie Lynn Murrell - BCDC On Sunday morning May 3, 2026, at approximately 1:54am, Pineville Police responded to a well-being request at a Forest Street address. The call to Bell County Dispatch advised that an individual’s brother was being abused by the daughter of a woman later identified as Stephanie Lynn Murrell. The caller also said the brother had been threatened with a firearm at the residence and that if officers approached, they would be

From WRIL The Big One - 35-year-old Shawn King of Middlesboro, Ky. was arrested on July 10, 2024, charged with trafficking in controlled substance - 1st degree, 1st offense (greater than 2 grams - Methamphetamine). He was later indicted on the charge and a two-day jury trial march 30th and April 1st, was held in Bell Circuit Court. The Commonwealth was represented by Mr. Mike Taylor, Mr. Danny Smith, and Mr. John Blevins. Mr. King was represented by Mr. Levi Turner. Both par

From The Knox Ky Sheriff's Department - On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, around 7:00 p.m. Knox County 911 recieved a call of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 25E, just South of Higgins Rd. The preliminary investigation determined that a 2001 Mercury Sable operated by 73-year-old Alfred Smith of Corbin, Ky was making a left turn from North 25E on to KY 1232 when he crossed into the path of a 2025 Chevy Silverado operated by 29-year-old Cody Cox of Pineville, Ky. Mr. Cox was t

From US Department of Justice - Clinton Everett Hahn - LCCC LONDON, Ky. – 52-year-old Clinton Everett Hahn, was sentenced on Monday, April 27, 2026, to 45 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for being a felon in possession of firearms. Hahn, a resident of Missouri, was required to register as a sex offender based on a Statutory Rape, Second Degree, conviction. He absconded from Missouri and was ultimately located by the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force

From WRIL The Big One - Michael Howard - HCDC As we previously reported, at approximatley 7:00pm Saturday night April 25, 2026, Kentucky State Police and Harlan County Sheriff's Department responded to a reported domestic violence incident involving a knife. Once on scene, Troopers and Deputies made contact with a family member of the suspected attacker who stated both individuals were inside the home. According to the citation, KSP troopers entered the home and were met by

From the Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department and US Marshals Service - Shawn Asher - KCDC On Wednesday April 23, 2026, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about a possible kidnapping from the 8000 Block of KY 1232, Corbin, KY, involving an adult female victim and an adult male suspect later identified as 38-year-old Shawn Asher. Asher is alleged to have broken in the victim's home and was waiting for her. An argument between the two ensued and Asher forced

From the Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department - John Kuhn - KCDC Early Thursday morning April 23, 2026, at approximately midnight, Barbourville Police Officers Braydon Isom and Brice Bays requested a drug K-9 to a traffic stop involving 42-year-old John Kuhn of Louisville, Ky. Responding to the scene was Knox County K-9 Deputy Jesse Smith with K-9 Chief. After conducting a free-air sniff, Chief alerted with a positive indication on the rear passenger door. Found in a search o

From WRIL - The Big One - (Middlesboro, Ky.) On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Middlesboro Police and Bell County Sheriff’s Department worked to apprehend two individuals in separate cases. In the first case - law enforcement, led by MPD Detective Barry Cowan and BCSO Detective Hunter Luttrell, apprehended 33-year-old Dominic Lester of Middlesboro. After an investigation determined that Lester had been conducting drug trafficking operations, he was charged with Trafficking in Co

From WRIL The Big One - Tuesday evening April 21, 2026, first responders were at a Tazewell residence after a call of a truck falling on an individual. Claiborne County Sheriff Bob Brooks tells us that Colby Seals was working on his flatbed truck when it accidentally struck him causing his death. The sheriff added that this situation does not warrant an investigation, but that Detective Eric Fraley was on scene per protocol. This accident was covered after family members we

From The Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department - Kayla Middleton - KCDC On Sunday, April 19, 2026, at approximately 11:15 pm, Knox County Deputy Thomas Martin observed a vehicle with a missing taillight traveling on Morningside Drive in Barbourville. After conducting a traffic stop, Deputy Martin also observed several empty plastic baggies in the front seat. The vehicle was occupied by the driver, 34-year-old Kayla Middleton of Evarts, Ky., and a female passenger. Deputy Martin

From WRIL The Big One - On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Kentucky State Police Trooper Abner, with assistance from Bell County Sheriff's Department, apprehended three more people who have been a part of a drug operation at a prison. Taken into custody were 46-year-old Arlena Wilder and 52-year-old Bobby Wilder Jr., family members of two others involved in the alleged drug ring. A third person was arrested early Friday morning April 17th, 47-year-old Julie Ealy of Middlesboro. La

From the Loyall Police Department - Adam Mills - HCDC Following an investigation regarding a juvenile in Loyall, Kentucky being sent messages of a sexual nature from a man. Police Chief Charles Bailey states that the messages were recorded and sent to The Loyall Police Department by a concerned parent. Through the investigation it was determined that 27-year-old Adam Mills of Harlan, was in contact with the 15-year-old female. Mills was arrested in front of juvenile's residen

From The Claiborne County Tn Sheriff's Department - On Wednesday April 8th, 2026, Detectives with the Claiborne County Sheriffs Office Drug Investigations Division, Criminal Investigations Division, and Patrol Division conducted a search warrant at 176 McMurray Road in Cumberland Gap (located in very close proximity to Cumberland Gap High School). Upon searching the residence, a large amount of Methamphetamine (approximately 80 grams) was recovered along with cash (approximat